Did Obama Cynically Blackmail Petraeus?

Did President Obama first blackmail General Petraeus and then cynically expose Petraeus after Petraeus had given cover to Obama?

The FBI has apparently been aware of General Petraeus’ adulterous affair for at least a few months. Since Petraeus commanded the CIA, it seems logical that President Obama should have been made aware of this information shortly after details of Petraeus’ affair became obvious to the FBI.

Was General Petraeus promised that his adulterous affair would go unexposed if Petraeus gave cover for President Obama in the Benghazi al-Qaeda attack? General Petraeus, like President Obama, should have been aware from the start that the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi was an organized al-Qaeda attack. However, General Petraeus, like UN Ambassador Susan Rice, publically claimed the attack and the assassination of Ambassador Christopher Stevens were precipitated by a spontaneous riot due to an obscure video criticizing Islam. ABC News reported 14 September on the 13 September House Intelligence Committee briefing by General Petraeus,

The attack that killed four Americans in the Libyan consulate began as a spontaneous protest against the film “The Innocence of Muslims,” but Islamic militants who may have links to Al Qaeda used the opportunity to launch an attack, CIA Director David Petraeus told the House Intelligence Committee today according to one lawmaker who attended a closed-door briefing.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intel committee, said Petraeus laid out “a chronological order exactly what we felt happened, how it happened, and where we’re going in the future.”

“In the Benghazi area, in the beginning we feel that it was spontaneous – the protest- because it went on for two or three hours, which is very relevant because if it was something that was planned, then they could have come and attacked right away,” Ruppersberger, D-Md., said following the hour-long briefing by Petraeus. “At this point it looks as if there was a spontaneous situation that occurred and that as a result of that, the extreme groups that were probably connected to al Qaeda took advantage of that situation and then the attack started.”

I think the really shocking news today was that General Petraeus thought and hoped he could keep his job. He thought that it might and it would be kept secret, and that he could stay in his position. I think what that tells us is really important. It meant that he understood that the FBI obviously knew what was going on. He was hoping that those administration officials would not disclose what had happened, and therefore hoping that he would keep his job. And that meant that he understood that his job, his reputation, his legacy, his whole celebrated life was in the hands of the administration, and he expected they would protect him by keeping it quiet.

And that brings us to the ultimate issue, and that is his testimony on September 13. That’s the thing that connects the two scandals, and that’s the only thing that makes the sex scandal relevant. Otherwise it would be an exercise in sensationalism and voyeurism and nothing else. The reason it’s important is here’s a man who knows the administration holds his fate in its hands, and he gives testimony completely at variance with what the Secretary of Defense had said the day before, at variance with what he’d heard from his station chief in Tripoli, and with everything that we had heard. Was he influenced by the fact that he knew his fate was held by people within the administration at that time?

Dr. Krauthammer continued,

Of course it was being held over Petraeus’s head, and the sword was lowered on Election Day. You don’t have to be a cynic to see that as the ultimate in cynicism. As long as they needed him to give the administration line to quote Bill, everybody was silent. And as soon as the election’s over, as soon as he can be dispensed with, the sword drops and he’s destroyed. I mean, can you imagine what it’s like to be on that pressure and to think it didn’t distort or at least in some way unconsciously influence his testimony? That’s hard to believe.

It will be interesting to hear what General Petraeus has to say during his testimony on Capitol Hill. Should Petraeus speak of blackmail and Presidential promises broken, Petraeus could bring down the Obama Administration. The fate of the United States of America and Western Civilization are now in the hands of General David Petraeus.

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...with Dr. May's conspiracy theory du jour is that the reason the affair escaped the confines of the FBI was that the original "shirtless" agent who passed on the threats of harassment later passed on the details of the investigation to Eric Cantor's office. Things were completely sealed until that point.

So the real question to ask is, Why did the agent pass on details of an investigation to Eric Cantor? What did Eric Cantor have to gain by the firing of Gen. Petraeus?

Also, the former general is still testifying. My prediction is that he will share nothing damning (because there is nothing damning) but that "conservatives" like Dr. May will continue to see a conspiracy theory because that's all that they can see.

"I enjoy a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast while reading conspiracy theories."

"We grant no dukedoms to the few, We hold like rights and shall; Equal on Sunday in the pew, On Monday in the mall. For what avail the plough or sail, Or land, or life, if freedom fail?
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Source: Boston (st. 5)

"It will be interesting to hear what General Petraeus has to say during his testimony on Capitol Hill. Should Petraeus speak of blackmail and Presidential promises broken, Petraeus could bring down the Obama Administration. The fate of the United States of America and Western Civilization are now in the hands of General David Petraeus."

General Petraeus is an honorable man and a great soldier. He is an American hero. He has admitted mistakes he made in the conduct of his personal life.

But, you, May want more. You want revenge! In your warped interpretation of these events, you are wanting him to take down Obama--who is not involved.

Again, I will call to your attention your anti-American ways and how you do not believe in our country, just because your side lost the election in November.

If you don't like it here move to another country. Perhaps you should join your colleague from Ohio who is moving to Switzerland.

"You have to get up pretty early to get one past Tennessee Republicans.

This bunch has already seen through, and taken measures to defend against, the United Nations' plan for global domination, otherwise known as the sustainability initiative Agenda 21. Samar Ali was hardly on the job for one month before a wild fire was spreading through the party's grass roots about her nefarious plan to import Shariah law into the state. And now state Rep. Kelly Keisling has alerted his constituents to President Barack Obama's plot to stage a fake assassination attempt, giving him the opportunity to impose martial law and, of course, delay the 2012 presidential election..."
http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2012/08/01/tinfoil-hat-society-state-legislator-warns-of-obamas-fake-assassination-plot

I think Tom Head may already be a member. What is holding up your membership, May?

I have to say, I just don't understand this conspiracy theory. If Petraeus did know something about Benghazi that could sink Obama, why would publicly humiliating the general and his family and forcing him to resign buy his silence? It makes no sense whatsoever.

Next time you guys come up with a conspiracy theory, at least try to make it plausible.

Unbelievable conspiracy theories is what Barack Obama is counting-on. He wants all his blind-admirers to defend him based on ' discrediting any critics of his actions as "conspiracy theories".

He believes and seems very effective at useing clever 'reverse psycholoy' . If he tells you the Truth about some double-crossing he's done...and you laugh and mock it with him; it's a way to discredit the critics and deceive YOU of the truth. In the game of pool, you're call a fish and his is always ' Snookering You '.

Give us some evidence, rather than conjecture, and we'll believe it. But right now the best you have is, "Maybe there's evidence that's hidden that Petraeus maybe knows that maybe could sink Obama if it were maybe released."

He is now mocking and calling out the Senators asking him about Benghazi. How more arrogant can He get ?

He arrogantly told the media not to blame Susan Rice for Lying ; to Blame Him; or words to that effect . Is he serious or just arrogant ?

We have a United States Ambassador Dead and 3 other brave Men, that were basically "left to the dogs to die", when help was standing-by to assist; while he watched from the 'Situation Room'!

Then the next morning like nothing had happened he boards the plane and goes to a Campaign Event in Las Vagas. Leaving his 'stoogies' to ' Cover-up ' for him . Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, Leon Penetta....and all the rest should be ashame of yourselves!

Now, you smart guys are defending him ! Come'On, he needs to be Impeached !

"The fate of the United States of America and Western Civilization are now in the hands of General David Petraeus."

You seem to be a bit of a slow learner as to why your guy lost. Here's a hint: gross exaggeration on every political topic has not served you very well. But maybe it'll be different this time and you'll get a different result by doing the same thing over and over.